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| United States Patent |
6,176,550
|
|
Lamart
, et al.
|
January 23, 2001
|
Adjustable armrest for chairs
Abstract
An armrest construction for chairs includes an armrest support having a
lower end constructed for attachment to a chair, an upper end, and a
mounting block attached to the upper end. A pivot block is pivoted to the
mounting block at a main pivot, the pivot block having an
upwardly-extending follower. First and second gears are each pivoted to
the pivot block, the gears having intermeshing teeth at an inner end such
that rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to simultaneously
rotate in an opposite direction, the first and second gears further having
outer ends. A support plate having pivot/slide members engages the outer
ends of the first and second gears, and further has a guide operably
engaging the follower to guide lateral movement of the support plate along
a predetermined path. The support plate is rotatable about the main pivot
to adjust the angular orientation of the armrest construction and is
laterally movable along continuously parallel positions to adjust a width
of the armrest construction relative to the chair. The armrest
construction is mounted on a vertically-adjustable armrest support member
for optimal adjustability.
| Inventors:
|
Lamart; Michel A. (Kentwood, MI);
Dammermann; Arnold B. (Grand Rapids, MI);
Knoblock; Glenn A. (Kentwood, MI);
Grooters; Robert S. (Grand Rapids, MI);
DeKraker; Larry (Holland, MI);
Hasbany; John Hanna J. (Grand Rapids, MI)
|
| Assignee:
|
Steelcase Development Inc. (Grand Rapids, MI)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
545262 |
| Filed:
|
April 7, 2000 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
297/411.37; 297/411.35 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A47C 007/54 |
| Field of Search: |
297/411.35,411.37,411.2
|
References Cited
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| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 1315186 | Mar., 1993 | CA.
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|
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|
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| |
| WO 9639903 | Dec., 1996 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Brown; Peter R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Price, Heneveld, Cooper, DeWitt & Litton
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/356,195,
filed Jul. 16, 1999, entitled ADJUSTABLE ARMREST FOR CHAIRS, which is a
continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/984,582, filed Dec. 3, 1997,
entitled ADJUSTABLE ARMREST FOR CHAIRS, now issued U.S. Pat. No.
5,971,484, entitled ADJUSTABLE ARMREST FOR CHAIRS, the entire contents of
each of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An armrest construction for chairs comprising:
an armrest support including a lower end constructed for attachment to a
chair, an upper end, and a mounting block attached to the upper end;
a pivot block pivotally mounted on the mounting block at a main pivot;
first and second gears each pivotally mounted on the pivot block, the gears
having intermeshing teeth at inner ends adjacent to each other such that
rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to simultaneously rotate
in an opposite direction, the first and second gears further having outer
ends on opposite edges from the inner ends; and
a support plate having pivot/slide members engaging the outer ends of the
first and second gears, and wherein:
a selected one of said pivot block and said support plate includes a
follower, and the other of said pivot block and said support plate
includes a guide operably engaging the follower to guide lateral movement
of the support plate along a predetermined path, the support plate being
rotatable about the main pivot to adjust the angular orientation of the
armrest construction and being laterally movable along continuously
parallel positions to adjust a width of the armrest construction relative
to the chair.
2. The armrest construction defined in claim 1, wherein:
said follower is located on said mounting block and said guide is part of
said support plate.
3. The armrest construction defined in claim 2, wherein:
said follower extends upwardly from said pivot block.
4. The armrest construction defined in claim 1, wherein the guide includes
a guide channel.
5. The armrest construction defined in claim 4, wherein the guide channel
defines a linear path.
6. The armrest construction defined in claim 1 including a friction pad on
the mounting block engaging the pivot block at a location spaced from the
main pivot.
7. The armrest construction defined in claim 1, wherein the support plate
includes guide slots for guiding the movement of the pivot/slide members.
8. The armrest construction defined in claim 7, wherein the gears each
include a first end having a gear pivot, and the teeth are spaced from the
gear pivot on the first end, and further each includes a second end on
which the pivot/slide members are operably mounted.
9. The armrest construction defined in claim 1, wherein the mounting block
includes a main pivot hole, and the pivot block includes a main pivot
busing member rotatably engaging the main pivot hole, the main pivot hole
and the main pivot bushing member having interfacing surfaces defining a
relatively high coefficient of friction so that a predetermined force must
be applied to the pivot block before the pivot block rotates in the main
pivot.
10. The armrest construction defined in claim 9, wherein the interfacing
surfaces include longitudinally-extending ridges on each of said surfaces
that engage each other at incremental positions to provide a detent feel
and which hold the armrest body in a selected rotational position relative
to the main pivot.
11. The armrest construction defined in claim 9, wherein one of the
interfacing surfaces includes an elastomeric material for dampening
movement in the main pivot.
12. The armrest construction defined in claim 1 including an anti-slip,
friction-generating material located between the pivot block and the first
and second gears.
13. An armrest construction for chairs, comprising:
an armrest support including an upper end, and a pivot block attached to
the upper end;
first and second gears each pivotally mounted on the pivot block, the gears
having intermeshing teeth at inner ends adjacent to each other such that
rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to simultaneously rotate
in an opposite direction, the first and second gears further having outer
ends on opposite edges from the inner ends; and
a support plate having pivot/slide members engaging the outer ends of the
first and second gears, and wherein:
a selected one of said pivot block and said support plate includes a
follower, and the other of said pivot block and said support plate
includes a guide engaging the follower to guide lateral movement of the
support plate along a predetermined path so that the support plate is
laterally movable along continuously parallel positions to adjust a width
of the armrest construction relative to the chair.
14. The armrest construction defined in claim 13, wherein the pivot/slide
members pivotally engage the first and second gears, and further pivotally
and slidably engage the support plate.
15. The armrest construction defined in claim 14, wherein the guide
comprises a channel-like embossment in the support plate.
16. The armrest construction defined in claim 14, including a
friction-generating device between the gears and one of the support plate
and the pivot block for holding the gears in a selected position.
17. The armrest construction defined in claim 16, wherein the first and
second gears are pivotally mounted on the pivot block at gear pivots, and
wherein the friction-generating device includes an arcuate channel that
extends partially around the gear pivots, and further includes a friction
plate with point embossments that extend into and engage the arcuate
channel.
18. The armrest construction defined in claim 16, wherein the
friction-generating device includes a brake pad engaging the pivot block.
19. The armrest construction defined in claim 14, including a gear cover
covering the gears when the first and second gears are in a
laterally-adjusted position, such that the first and second gears are
covered even when the first and second gears extend partially out from
under the support plate.
20. The armrest construction defined in claim 13, including an anti-slip,
friction-generating material located between the pivot block and the first
and second gears.
21. The armrest construction defined in claim 13, wherein the armrest
support includes a mounting block and the pivot block is pivotally mounted
on the mounting block.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns adjustable armrests for chairs that can be
adjusted in multiple directions and orientations relative to a seated user
for increased comfort and ergonomics.
Adjustable armrests allows users to comfortably support their forearms
while working, despite the differences in their sizes, shapes, and
preferences. This can be particularly important for computer operators and
for people having desk jobs, where the person may stay seated for long
periods of time, and where different users use the same chair. It is also
important for users that are physically large or heavy, or that are
physically small or light in weight, to be able to adjust the armrest to a
lateral position that is both comfortably close to them, but far enough
out of the way to not restrict their body movements in the chair. The
amount of adjustment must be relatively large in order to accommodate as
many users as possible. However, a large range of adjustment often causes
present armrest adjustment mechanisms to become sloppy at their outermost
extended positions, and/or reduces their durability because of the
increased torsional forces that they encounter.
Sometimes, in an effort to make highly-adjustable armrests more secure,
complicated latching and securing mechanisms are added. However, such
parts are expensive, often complex, and are not easy to operate. Further,
sometimes it is not intuitively obvious how latches and triggers operate,
such that users new to the chair must undesirably spend time figuring out
how to operate the armrest in order to adjust it. Also, multi-part
mechanisms can lead to quality problems during manufacture and warranty
problems in service.
To summarize, modem users demand armrests that are simple and easy to
operate, that are intuitively obvious to adjust, and that have a good,
solid feel during adjustment. At the same time, customers want long life
and low cost. Accordingly, an armrest construction solving the
aforementioned problems and having the aforementioned advantages is
desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an armrest construction for chairs
includes an armrest support having a lower end constructed for attachment
to a chair, an upper end, and a mounting block attached to the upper end.
A pivot block is pivoted to the mounting block at a main pivot, the pivot
block having an upwardly-extending follower. First and second gears are
each pivoted to the pivot block, the gears having intermeshing teeth at an
inner end such that rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to
simultaneously rotate in an opposite direction, the first and second gears
further having outer ends. A support plate has pivot/slide members
engaging the outer ends of the first and second gears, and further has a
guide operably engaging the follower to guide lateral movement of the
support plate along a predetermined path. The support plate is rotatable
about the main pivot to adjust the angular orientation of the armrest
construction and is laterally movable along continuously parallel
positions to adjust a width of the armrest construction relative to the
chair.
In another aspect, an armrest construction for chairs includes an armrest
support having an upper end and a pivot block attached to the upper end,
the pivot block having a follower. First and second gears are each pivoted
to the pivot block, the gears having intermeshing teeth at an inner end
such that rotation of the first gear causes the second gear to
simultaneously rotate in an opposite direction, the first and second gears
further having outer ends. A support plate has pivot/slide members
engaging the outer ends of the first and second gears, and further has a
guide engaging the follower to guide lateral movement of the support plate
along a predetermined path so that the support plate is laterally movable
along continuously parallel positions to adjust a width of the armrest
construction relative to the chair.
In another aspect, an armrest construction for chairs includes an elongated
support having an upper end and a mounting block thereon, an armrest
including a pivot block, and a main pivot pivotally interconnecting the
mounting block to the pivot block. The main pivot includes a pivot hole in
one of the mounting block and the pivot block, and includes a protrusion
on the other of the mounting block and the pivot block for rotatably
engaging the hole. The pivot hole and the protrusion include interfacing
surfaces having a predetermined high coefficient of friction, such that
rotation of the armrest about the main pivot requires a predetermined
amount of force. In a preferred form, one of the interfacing surfaces is
formed by a ribbed rubber element that causes the main pivot to move with
a detented movement.
In another aspect, an armrest construction for chairs includes an elongated
support including a mounting block, an armrest including a pivot block,
and a main pivot pivotally interconnecting the mounting block to the
armrest. A brake pad is located between the mounting block and the pivot
block, the brake pad being spaced from the main pivot so that the armrest
is rotatable about the main pivot, but so that a predetermined minimum
torsional force is required sufficient to overcome a frictional force of
the brake pad.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair including an armrest construction
embodying the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side view of the armrest of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded perspective views of the armrest construction
of FIG. 2;
FIGS. 4-6 are bottom views of the armrest construction of FIG. 2, FIGS. 4-6
showing the armrest body adjusted to outboard, inboard, and intermediate
parallel laterally-adjusted positions;
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the armrest like FIG. 6, but taken from a bottom
position aligned with the armrest support tube;
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII--VII in FIG. 7;
and
FIGS. 9-12 are cross-sectional views taken along the lines IX--IX, X--X,
XI--XI, and XII--XII in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An armrest construction 30 (FIG. 1) embodying the present invention
includes an armrest support 31 having a lower end 32 constructed for
attachment to a chair 33, and an upper end 34. A mounting block 35 (FIG.
3A) is attached to the upper end. A pivot block 36 is pivoted to the
mounting block 35 at a main pivot 37, the pivot block 36 having an
upwardly-extending follower 38. Gears 39 and 40 (FIG. 3B) with
intermeshing teeth 41 and 42 at their inner ends are pivoted to the pivot
block 36 so that rotation of one gear causes the other gear to
simultaneously rotate in an opposite direction. A support plate 43 has
slots for receiving pivot/slide members 44 and 45 that pivotally engage
the outer ends of the gears 39 and 40, and further has a guide channel 46
that operably engages the follower 38 to guide lateral movement of the
support plate 43 along a predetermined lateral path relative to the chair
33. An armrest cushioned body 47 is attached to the support plate 43. By
selectively adjusting the armrest body 47 and support plate 43, the
armrest is angularly rotatable/adjustable about the main pivot 37 (FIG. 4)
and is laterally translatable/adjustable along continuously parallel
positions (FIGS. 4-6). Thus, the orientation and relative width of the
armrest construction is adjustable relative to the chair.
The support 31 (FIG. 1) comprises an L-shaped structural member having the
horizontal bottom or lower section 32 adapted for connection to a chair
base under a chair seat and having a vertically-extending, tubular-top
section 34 (FIG. 3A). A sleeve bushing 55 fits matingly into the top
section 34, and includes frictional snap-lock detents for holding it
therein. A tube weldment 53 includes a mating tube section 54 shaped to
telescopingly slidingly engage an inside of the sleeve bushing 55 for
telescoping height adjustment. A Z-shaped activator 56 fits operably
within the tube section 54. The Z-shaped activator 56 includes a straight
section forming a vertical lever 57. Lever 57 has a primary fulcrum pivot
bump 58 located about its mid-point and a stop or bump 59 located somewhat
thereabove. Notably, the location and size of fulcrum bumps 58 and 59 can
be changed to optimize the function of actuator 56. A trigger-engaging top
leg 60 extends through a notch 61 in a top of tube section 54, and a
trigger/handle 62 is supported on top leg 60. There is a notch 61 in both
sides of the tube section 54 so that the same tube section 54 can be used
on either side of the chair. A bottom leg 63 of the activator 56 extends
through a locator hole 64 and selectively into a series of
vertically-spaced latching holes 65 in the tube section 54. One of the top
and bottom legs 60 and 62 help locate the actuator 56 on the tube weldment
53 through the mating engagement of notch 61 and hole 64. A spring 66 sets
on locator protrusion 66_ and biases the activator 56 to an engaged
position. The spring 66 can be a coil spring, a leaf spring, or other
biasing means. The activator 56 pivots on the primary pivot bump 58
between engaged and disengaged positions of bottom leg 63, with secondary
stop 59 acting to limit the pivoting motion of activator 56 during
movement to the disengaged position by changing the fulcrum point when
activator 56 is fully disengaged. A skirt cover formed by a polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) cover or covers 50 (FIG. 1) are attached around the tubes
52 and 54 to protect and aesthetically cover the arm support assembly.
The mounting block 35 (FIG. 3A) is welded to an upper end of the tube
section 54. Mounting block 35 comprises a plate 67 with a pivot hole 68 in
one end and a notch 69 in its other end facing toward an outside of the
chair. The pivot hole 68 defines an axis of rotation 70. A cylindrical
flange 71 extends downwardly from mounting block 35 for
extending/lengthening the effective length of the hole 68 to about triple
the thickness of the plate 67. The cylindrical inner surface of the pivot
hole 68 includes a series of axially-extending detent ridges 72. Notch 69
aligns with notch 61 in top tube section 54 for receiving the top leg 60.
A recess 73 is formed in the notched end at a location spaced from pivot
hole 68 for receiving a brake shoe 74. The brake shoe 74 comprises a
rubber friction pad made of a high-friction material adapted to
frictionally engage the pivot block 36 with a known and relatively high
coefficient of friction, as described below. The brake shoe 74 is held in
position by an adhesive or by a retention stud that extends through hole
75 in the recess 73. Mounting block 35 further includes holes and features
as needed for assembly.
A flat flange 77 on pivot bushing 86 (described below) spaces the pivot
block 36 above mounting block 35 and prevents metal-on-metal contact. A
standoff 78 at the tip of the end opposite the brake shoe 74 also engages
the pivot block 36 at a location spaced from the brake shoe 74 causing the
pivot block 36 to engage the brake shoe 74 in a more uniform manner.
The pivot block 36 comprises a relatively flat steel plate 80 (FIG. 3A). A
pair of upstanding apertured pivot-forming bosses 81 and 82 are formed in
an intermediate section of the pivot block 36, and the upstanding finger
or follower 38 is located along an outboard edge of the pivot block 36
generally at a location centered fore-to-aft relative to the two bosses 81
and 82. A spacer 80_ is placed on flat plate 80 and is used as an
interface between the pivot block and the gears 39 and 40 to avoid
steel-on-steel contact. The spacer 80_ is made from a rubber or
friction-generating material to provide anti-slip engagement, such as when
a seated user presses downwardly on the armrest. The material and function
of spacer 80-- are similar to that of brake shoe 74, although the
materials do not need to be the same per se.
A protrusion 83 extends downwardly from one end of the pivot block 36.
Protrusion 83 includes longitudinally-extending ridges 84 and an
axially-aligned hole in its end. A main pivot bushing 86 fits onto
protrusion 83. Main pivot bushing 86 includes a structural sleeve 87 with
an inner diameter and channels 87_ shaped to mateably and non-rotatably
engage ridges 84. The outer surface of the bushing 86 is covered with a
rubber coating or rubber element 88 that is rough and that includes a
plurality of longitudinally-extending ridges 89. The ridges 89
frictionally and slidingly engage the ridges 72 on the hole 68 in mounting
block 35, creating an interface that slips with a detented stop-and-start
motion as the pivot block 36 is pivoted on the mounting block 35. A pivot
washer 90 abuts a lower end of the pivot bushing 86 and a screw 91 extends
through the washer 90 and threadably into the protrusion 83, thus securing
the pivot block 36 to the mounting block 35. The pivot bushing 86
preferably has a washer-like top flange shaped to engage a top of the
pivot block 36, where the top flange is sandwiched between the pivot block
36 and the mounting block 35 in a manner to better hold the pivot bushing
86 in the mounting block 35.
A laterally-extending planar tab 92 is formed along an inboard edge
opposite follower 38. A concavity 93 is formed on each side of the tab 92.
A lower cover plate 94 includes a hole 95 for receiving a threaded screw
extended through hole 95 into the tab 92. The lower cover plate 94
includes flanges 96 that engage the concavities 93 to help hold the lower
cover plate 94 in a predetermined angular position on the pivot block 36
for maximum covering effect. The lower cover plate 94 is welded or secured
to cover 132, described below.
Gears 39 and 40 (FIG. 3B) include holes 97 and 98 for rotatably engaging
the bosses 81 and 82, respectively. Teeth 41 and 42 are spaced from holes
97 and 98 so that they intermeshingly engage, causing the gears 39 and 40
to rotate simultaneously in opposing directions when one of the gears is
forcibly rotated. Arcuate channels 99 and 99_, each having rough bottoms
therein, are formed around each of holes 97 and 98 at locations opposite
teeth 41 and 42. Upwardly-extending apertured, pivot-forming bosses 101
and 102 are formed at an end opposite the teeth 41 and 42 on each of gears
39 and 40, respectively.
A "figure 8" shaped detent/retainer plate 103 is positioned on the gears 39
and 40, and pivot screws 104 and 105 are extended through holes 97_ and
98_ in the detent/retainer plate 103 and through pivot holes 97 and 98
into apertured pivot-forming bosses 81 and 82. Detent/retainer plate 103
includes an abround embossment 106 that extends around the two holes 97
and 98_ in pivot plate 103. The embossment 106 provides an inner concave
space for receiving the heads of the screws 104 and 105.
Downwardly-extending point embossments 107 and 108 are formed in opposite
ends of the detent/retainer plate 103 for mateably engaging the rough
bottoms of the channels 99 and 99_. The point embossments 107 and 108 form
detents against the channels 99 and 99_ and give the arrangement a quality
feel. The brake shoe 74 and spacer 80 provide sufficient frictional force
to stabilize the armrest against unexpected sliding adjustment when a
seated user is using the armrests. Advantageously, the present arrangement
provides a frictional force that increases when a person leans on the
armrest, thus providing a strong holding force at the most advantageous
time, such as when a seated user is leaning on the armrests to rise out of
the chair.
The pivot/slide members 44 and 45 (FIG. 3B) each include a lubricous washer
110 for engaging a top of the gears 39 and 40, and further include an
apertured upstanding protrusion 111 for mateably rotatably engaging the
upstanding pivot-forming bosses 101 and 102. The protrusion 111 includes
an outer surface having a square section 112 with flat sides and a round
cylindrically-shaped surface 113. The screws 113_ secure the gears 39 and
40 to the support plate 43.
The support plate 43 (FIG. 3B) includes a generally planar body having a
center section 114 and end sections 115 and 116. The support plate channel
46 for follower 38 is an upwardly-extending embossment formed transversely
in center section 114. A pair of recessed areas 117 and 118 are formed at
opposite ends of the support plate 43. Upwardly-formed, channel-shaped
embossments 119 and 120 are formed in the opposite ends, respectively, and
longitudinally-extending slots 121 and 122 are formed in embossments 119
and 120, respectively. The channel-shaped embossments 119 and 120 are
shaped to slidably receive the square section 112 of pivot/slide members
44 and 45, and the slots 121 and 122 are shaped to slidably receive the
cylindrically-shaped surface 113 of the pivot/slide members 44 and 45. The
transverse embossment/channel 46 engages the follower 38 to limit the
lateral adjustment of the support plate 43 to a linear motion that is
continuously parallel in all positions, while the gears 39 and 40 rotate
causing the pivot/slide members 44 and 45 to slide equally along the slots
119 and 120. The armrest body 47 is attached atop the support plate 43 and
comprises a relatively flat structural component 47_ having recesses
122-124 for mateably engaging and covering the embossments 46, 119, and
120, respectively. A skinned or upholstered cushion 125 is attached atop
the support plate 43 by screws, other mechanical fasteners, adhesive, or
the like.
A tub-shaped cover 126 (FIG. 3A) fits onto and is attached to the mounting
block around the upper end 34 of support 31. Cover 126 includes
upwardly-curved sidewalls 127 that extend up and around mounting block 35.
An aperture 128 in the sidewalls 127 receives the trigger 62. Apertured
bosses 129 are formed inside the cover 126 for receiving screws 130 to
retain the cover 126 to the mounting block 35. Reinforcement ribs 131 are
formed in cover 126 to help retain its shape. A gear cover 132 (FIG. 3B)
is attached atop the gears 39 and 40. Gear cover 132 includes a hollow
protrusion 133 for mateably engaging the follower 38 in guide channel 46.
The hollow protrusion 133 can be integral with the cover 132 or can be a
separate part. A dome-shaped body 134 on the gear cover 132 includes a lip
flange 135 that aesthetically covers the gears 39 and 40, even when the
armrest is adjusted to its most inwardly position where the gears 39 and
40 extend laterally from under the armrest body 47.
In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those
skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without
departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be
considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by
their language expressly state otherwise.
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